2012 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread

[alnorth]

2012 Slogan: Our Time

A better, more accurate 2012 Slogan: It is Finally Next Year
(from Great Expectations)

An alternative slogan if you don't like that one: Someone has to win this crappy division
(from alnorth)

With the beginning of a new year, it is time for the 2012 version of the Royals Repository Thread. We've got Hosmer, we've got a 2011-dominating Gordon, we've got Moose, we've got hopefully a killer bullpen, we've got a stereotypical slow slugging DH, we've got easily one of the best defensive shortstops in the AL, we've got a promising catcher in Salvador Perez. Hell, we've got offense and promising prospects galore.

We do not have starting pitching.

Oh yeah, we've also got this:



Get ready for, (as of January 2012 anyway), one of the most confusing puzzles of a baseball season in recent Royals history. Will they suck? Maybe, I don't know. Will we be given a year of 0.500 baseball? Possibly, I don't know. Will they win the division and go to the playoffs for the first time in 27 years? For the first time in a long time, it could happen, I don't know. 92 losses, 92 wins, or anything in between would not surprise a lot of us.

Everything goes here except Gameday threads and really big news. If a giant story breaks, the Royals achieve some awesome milestone, or we sign/lose a highly significant player/coach/mascot/whatever, then it might also deserve its own thread. This being Chiefs Planet, please do not clutter the board with new threads about trivial Royals news or you will only annoy those who come here for just Chiefs football. If you aren't sure and its not a Gameday thread, it goes here.

What sort of stuff often goes here? SPchief explained it well, so I'll just copy that:

If you locate something of interest.. ANYTHING.. deals on apparel, best ways in/out of the stadium, giveaways, great stories from this season or from seasons gone by, rumors, trades, anything.... feel free to post it here.

[sedated]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

Well we finally saw what our offense can be yesterday with Cain and Perez taking care of the bottom of the lineup. We beat up a pitcher with a 3-1 record and a 2.6 or so ERA. Our offense may finally be what we were expecting.

And how did that turn out? We lost, because our starter got blown up and our bullpen blew it.

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

From Rany's update today (www.ranyontheroyals.com):

As recently as 2 or 3 years ago, I felt that the Glass family was spending a reasonable amount of money on major-league payroll, particularly given how much they were spending to sign amateur talent. But this season, the Royals’ payroll is roughly $64 million. That’s almost identical to their payroll in 2008, and more than $10 million LESS than their payroll in 2009 and 2010. Given how much industry revenues have increased the last few years, AND given that the Royals are now prohibited from spending as much money in the draft and in Latin America, that’s inexcusable.

You and Rany both know much of that is due to having a team made up in large part of young, core players who haven't reached their big payday yet and some complimentary type back up players. In saying that though it doesn't excuse not spending more for FA pitching in the off season or making another trade or two. Of course you also have to have two to tango in free agency.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by CJizzles

There for awhile our over worked bullpen had one of the better ERAs in the AL.

Broxton is a minor blip, in an otherwise pretty salty bullpen.

Right now we are 7th in the AL with a 3.21 ERA and our bullpen also has far away the most innings pitched with 19 more than the second team. Add in the fact that some of our best bullpen guys have had to become starters and you begin to realize that the ERA our pen does have is pretty remarkable.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Team. The stat I just saw was that last night was your 11th as a team, tied with a couple other teams for 2nd in the AL.

ESPN is showing 10 but either way the difference between 2nd most and 9th most is two blown saves.

[Ceej]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

Right now we are 7th in the AL with a 3.21 ERA and our bullpen also has far away the most innings pitched with 19 more than the second team. Add in the fact that some of our best bullpen guys have had to become starters and you begin to realize that the ERA our pen does have is pretty remarkable.

I agree, 100%.

It just sucks one or two of them may have to be packaged to acquire a SP or whatever other positions we are targeting.

Assuming the FO is actually going to be aggressive in FA.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by sedated

And how did that turn out? We lost, because our starter got blown up and our bullpen blew it.

But we did not lose because of offense whereas a few weeks ago without Cain and Perez it probably isnt close. I was saying that our offense is going to develop and be much better than they have been. Last night without Cain and Perez that game like ends 6-3 or so. The ONLY reason we were in the game was because the offense picked up the pitching. To me would suggests they may not be fully developed yet but they can be good enough to win some high scoring games because they will have to.

Besides we all know if Yost pulls Chen when he should have, we likely win the game. Bullpen pitched 10 innings and gave up 3 runs to a very good offense. Not ridiculously great, but very good.

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

But we did not lose because of offense whereas a few weeks ago without Cain and Perez it probably isnt close. I was saying that our offense is going to develop and be much better than they have been. Last night without Cain and Perez that game like ends 6-3 or so. The ONLY reason we were in the game was because the offense picked up the pitching. To me would suggests they may not be fully developed yet but they can be good enough to win some high scoring games because they will have to.

Besides we all know if Yost pulls Chen when he should have, we likely win the game. Bullpen pitched 10 innings and gave up 3 runs to a very good offense. Not ridiculously great, but very good.

I've generally been a Yost supporter but he's even on his last leg with me. His admission that he basically just wanted to see Chen qualify for the win rather than actually reading OR feeling the game and pulling him is entirely bush league. I'm glad that he admitted it but damn, this isn't little league... no matter how much they try to make it be.

[Nightfyre]

We need some excellent gamethread mojo to win today and tomorrow. Who is up?

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

We need some excellent gamethread mojo to win today and tomorrow. Who is up?

I'll take a stab if no one minds. No biggie though if someone else has it.

[Nightfyre]

By all means, take the bull by the horns

[JohnnyV13]

http://thevirilview.com/royals/2012/...es-to-do-list/

What dayton moore needs to do.

[gblowfish]

This season is over. Time to have our fire sale. Package Gordon and Broxton for a guy who can start in next year's rotation. Deal Frenchy and Collins for a project pitcher. Put Wil Meyers in Left, platoon right with Mitch Meier, Bourgeois, Dyson, whatever until Bubba is ready to go in 2014. Then in 2014 your outfield is Meyers, Cain and Bubba.

Must buy at least one starter in FA. Then your 2013 rotation would be (in no particular firing order): Hoch, Chen, Gordon/Broxton Trade, FA, Mendoza. When one of these guys goes down/blows up/sucks replace later in the year with Paulino, or Duffy, or Soria, or Odor-Eater. If that don't work, claim 2013 is a "building year" and repeat the desperate search for starters for 2014. Deal Hosmer if you have to at that point.

Just a thought.

This year being toast is true, though.

[Bowser]

Mitch Meier was DFA, although he did clear waivers.

Pitching is a must this offseason, obviously. We HAVE to spend a few bucks to fill the spots.

[gblowfish]

Originally Posted by Bowser

Mitch Meier was DFA, although he did clear waivers.

Pitching is a must this offseason, obviously. We HAVE to spend a few bucks to fill the spots.

Meier's back in Omaha. Nobody wanted him.

[DeezNutz]

Moving Gordon would be a mistake. Check that, an enormous mother****ing mistake. Again, you don't significantly weaken the ML roster in an effort to improve for '13/'14, and Gordon is a mother****ing man in the lead-off spot, no matter the '75 rhetoric that we sometimes deal with in baseball discussions.